PAWTUCKET – Fourth-seeded Bay View repeated as Division I state champions on Saturday afternoon at Slater Park, defeating third-seeded Mount St. Charles in the finals for the second year in a row.
The Bengals won the match by a 4-1 margin. Mount led in the other two matches at the time Bay View scored its clinching point.
“Bay View got hot in the playoffs,” Mount coach Richard Lawrence said after participating in a light-hearted photo session with his players and their parents following the match. “I thought we were exactly where we wanted to be in the playoffs but Bay View just played better than we did today.”
Bay View’s lineup featured state champion singles player Rebecca Curran and doubles champs Andrea Clark and Brianna Pelletier, who both breezed to victory in straight sets to give the Bengans an early 2-0 lead.
Mount, which had defeated Bay View 6-1 during the regular season, got its only point at No. 3 doubles when Katherine Porcaro and Chelsea Lee won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
In the swing matches, Bay View’s Katie Rockwell edged Meghan Lydon at second singles, 6-4 and 6-3. Bay View’s Victoria Babcock won by the same score at four singles over Lauren Porcaro.
“I’m very proud of the girls,” Lawrence admitted. “You can be just as proud of a team that finishes second in the state as when we win. This team was a joy to work with from the first day. I am very proud of the fact that we’ve been in the state finals eight of the last nine seasons.”
Lawrence’s magnanimous grace in defeat belies the competitor within. When asked if he conceded Bay View two points for its state champion singles and doubles entries, he shook his head.
“I concede nothing, not in tennis and not in life,” he said firmly. “We assume nothing. The girls worked hard every day in practice, waiting for this moment. They played to the best of their ability. It was all great fun, this entire season. There was never a moment when we weren’t working hard or enjoying the competition.”
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Bay View 4, Mount St. Charles 1
Singles: Rebecca Curran (BV) def. Meryl Lawrence 6-0, 6-2; Katie Rockwell (BV) def. Meghan Lydon 6-4, 6-3; Victoria Babcock (BV) def. Lauren Porcaro 6-4, 6-3.
Doubles: Andrea Clark-Brianna Pelletier (BV) def. Aimee Barone-Tara Martin 6-4, 6-0; Katherine Porcaro-Chelsea Lee (MSC) def. Cass Leyman-Jess DiFillippo 6-2, 6-2.